This week, one of the most remarkable achievements by one of the age’s most remarkable leaders will occur with little fanfare in the West. It is widely accepted that this is true only because of Aung San Suu Kyi—yet critics refuse to credit her fairly for it.
Aung San Suu Kyi
Aung San Suu Kyi is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning human rights activist who spent 15 collective years under house arrest for her efforts to bring democracy to Myanmar. Released in 2010, she went on to hold multiple governmental posts including state counselor. She was also featured on the cover of the Winter 2012 issue of Ms.
Who Do You Think Is “Person of the Year?”
It’s that time of year again: On Monday, TIME published its list of nominees for 2012’s Person of the Year. This annual designation recognizes a person or group that has significantly influenced the year’s events. The title is “bestowed by the editors on the person or persons who most affected the news and our lives, […]
The Silence of a Laureate–Will Aung San Suu Kyi Speak Out?
When I was growing up in Bangladesh, Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi never ceased to amaze me. Burma is right next door to us geographically, but as a little girl all I understood about the military junta in Burma was primarily what I learned through pictures. I just could not wrap my head around what kind of […]
Aung San Suu Kyi Finally Gives Nobel Speech—Just in Time for Her Birthday
If Aung San Suu Kyi had been able to deliver her acceptance speech when she won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, she would have been 46 years old. On June 16, three days before her 67th birthday–which she celebrates today, June 19–she finally gave that talk. Suu Kyi was under house arrest 21 years […]
“The Lady” Takes Office in Burma
Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was sworn in as a member of Burma’s Parliament today, along with other elected members of her party, the National League for Democracy. The current issue of Ms. has a cover story on the global feminist and human rights icon, from which this is an excerpt: For two decades, […]
Don’t Ms.: Experimentations of a Teenage Feminist, Aung San Suu Kyi Biopic, and More!
It’s a great week for feminist submissions! Help a teenager gather photos of feminists from around the globe, or enter an essay contest about Ms. magazine covers. This week there’s something for everyone, so don’t Ms. out! Everywhere: Experimentations of a Teenage Feminist blogger Danielle R. Burch is collecting photographs of a diverse array of […]
Women Senators Call for Action on Rape in Burma
On August 10, a group of 13 women U.S. senators sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton calling for support of a U.N.-led investigation of rape in conflict-ridden Burma. The senators urged Clinton to take action after 18 women and girls in the Kachin territory were reportedly raped by Burmese soldiers in late […]
Join the Fight to Help Burma
When the world last heard from Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning human rights activist and feminist hero from Burma (Myanmar), she had been released from a collective 15-year house arrest and was beginning to rebuild the National League for Democracy, the political party she founded. She has since visited rural parts of […]
Aung San Suu Kyi Speaks to Feminists
On Tuesday evening, Nobel Peace Prize-winner Aung San Suu Kyi spoke, via video, to guests at the Feminist Majority Foundation’s Global Women’s Rights Awards. Suu Kyi was given the Eleanor Roosevelt award for her tireless work for democracy and human rights in Burma, her home country. In her acceptance, the pro-democracy icon, who was released […]
Haitian Feminist Yolette Jeanty Honored With Other Global Women’s Activists
Haitian feminist Yolette’s Jeanty‘s name may not ring a bell, but her tireless work has been rightfully recognized recently. As executive director of Kay Fanm (in Kreyol, House of Women)–an organization whose mission is to fight for social justice and women’s rights–Jeanty has been an advocate and supporter of women and girls for decades. This […]